But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully,
Parallel translations
- WEB But we know that the law is good, if a person uses it lawfully,
- KJV But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
- BSB Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it legitimately.
- NASB But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully,
- NLT We know that the law is good when used correctly.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul affirms that the law is good when used lawfully, as God intended. It guards against both dismissing the law and misusing it.
Overview
Paul concedes the goodness of the law while insisting it must be used rightly. The problem was not the law itself but its misapplication by the false teachers. Used lawfully, the law exposes sin and points toward the grace found in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Rom 7:12–13Therefore the law indeed is holy, and the commandment holy, and righteous, and good.
- Ps 19:7–10Yahweh’s law is perfect, restoring the soul. Yahweh’s testimony is sure, making wise the simple.
- Rom 7:16But if what I don’t desire, that I do, I consent to the law that it is good.
- 2 Tim 2:5Also, if anyone competes in athletics, he isn’t crowned unless he has competed by the rules.
- Ps 119:127–128Therefore I love your commandments more than gold, yes, more than pure gold.
- Gal 3:21Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could make alive, most certainly righteousness would have been of the law.
- Neh 9:13“You also came down on Mount Sinai, and spoke with them from heaven, and gave them right ordinances and true laws, good statutes and commandments,
- Ps 119:96–105I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your commands are boundless. MEM
- Rom 7:22For I delight in God’s law after the inward man,
- Rom 12:2Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.
- Rom 7:18For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing. For desire is present with me, but I don’t find it doing that which is good.
- Deut 4:6–8Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who shall hear all these statutes, and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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There is 'one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all' — the mystery of godliness, God manifest in the flesh.
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Original language
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